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Time After Time

Play trailer Poster for Time After Time PG 1979 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has built a time machine, and he plans on using it to travel to a Utopian paradise in the future. But before he can, Jack the Ripper (David Warner), on the run from the police, uses it to escape and travel to 1979. Wells follows, and enlists the help of a bank teller named Amy (Mary Steenburgen) to catch Jack before he continues his killing spree. As they work together, Wells falls for Amy, even as she has a hard time believing his wild story of time travel.
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Time After Time

Time After Time

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Critics Consensus

With the three principal actors clearly having fun with their roles, becomes an amusing, light-hearted fantasy lark.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Osborne The Hollywood Reporter Sep 30, 2020
Such a scrambling of fact, fiction and imagination in itself deserves back-patting and, for the most part, the rendering is as delightful as the basic idea. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Jun 5, 2007
A delightful, entertaining trifle of a film that shows both the possibilities and limitations of taking liberties with literature and history. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Jun 5, 2007
Clever and well calculated. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy May 18, 2023
3/4
A clever piece of entertainment that offers some amusing culture-clash gags scattered throughout a solid thriller. Go to Full Review Amanda Mazzillo Film Joy Mar 8, 2022
Time After Time is a delightful film offering an alternative version of a real persons life utilizing the staples of their fiction. The performances ... make this light-hearted romantic fantasy thriller one you will not soon forget. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Aug 14, 2021
3/4
...a briskly-paced thriller that benefits substantially from its strong performances and proliferation of irresistible time-travel elements... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 13, 2026 Time After Time = a *4* star Movie... See more Shizue Leigh H @RT72406249 Aug 7, 2026 Nicholas Meyer has the "Magic Touch"👍 (Star Trek and non-Star Trek🫡). See more Angello D @CriticAngelo Mar 8, 2026 Loved the dramatic music. Time travel isn’t the only focus of the plot, which makes it feel more complex. The villain being inspired by real life is interesting. It’s a bit too long though, I usually prefer shorter movies. Beautiful ending. See more Mike P @RT09890132 Feb 4, 2026 Classic 70s sci fi...Malcom Mcdowell, in a total inversion of his character in Clockwork Orange, plays a 19th Century Century HG Wells, who's on the trail of a time travelling Jack the Ripper...Very clever and lots of fun...Written and directed by Nicholas Meyer of Star Trek 2 fame. See more Austin B @Austin35 Jan 7, 2026 They don't make movies like this anymore. Smart, engrossing entertainment that never lets up. As great today as it was 45 years ago. See more Ed B @RT72263556 Aug 25, 2025 We enjoyed it! It is entertaining and well written and kept us engaged throughout. The story is familiar but with an interesting twist. See more Read all reviews
Time After Time

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Cast & Crew

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Nicholas Meyer

Director

Malcolm McDowell

H. G. Wells

David Warner

Jack the Ripper - John Leslie Stevenson

Mary Steenburgen

Amy Robbins

Charles Cioffi

Actor

Laurie Main

Inspector Gregson

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Time After Time

Time After Time (1979) Time After Time (1979) Time After Time (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has built a time machine, and he plans on using it to travel to a Utopian paradise in the future. But before he can, Jack the Ripper (David Warner), on the run from the police, uses it to escape and travel to 1979. Wells follows, and enlists the help of a bank teller named Amy (Mary Steenburgen) to catch Jack before he continues his killing spree. As they work together, Wells falls for Amy, even as she has a hard time believing his wild story of time travel.
Director
Nicholas Meyer
Producer
Herb Jaffe
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Orion Productions, Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 31, 1979, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround
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